I'm really confused... "turn over"

[Rborgia]

Ok, first off... I realize some people are probably tired of hearing this asked, and seeing it discussed, I apologize! But the more time I spend reading RC, Nano-Reef etc.... the larger the bump on the side of my head is getting from hitting it against the wall.

Ok so people here suggest 50 x turn over... ok, that doable. Now I read on RC that 1-5 X is acceptable and more then enough. So what should I be doing? I have decided on getting a Sequence Dart for my closed loop and was considering the Sequence Hammerhead for my Return pump from my sump split to two outputs into the tank. But now after reading the post of RC and looking at some of the "Tanks of the month" they are using Mag9.5s as thier only return pump on a 120 gal tank. What gives? IS it just two different schools of thought?

Here is the RC link to the post.

And another...

My tanks is a 120 gal (48x24x24)...

I need to be clear on this before I dive in, I want to buy "good" equipment once, and not get stuck with "Good" equipemt I can't use.

Thanks and sorry for beating a dead horse.

Rich

 

[jhale]

there are two seperate flow issues.
the return pump which moves the water through the sump,
and the flow inside the tank, the return plus closed loops or powerheads.
depending on what coral you have anywhere from 20x to 70x of flow inside the tank is good for you. the return depends on the size tank and sump you have.

 

[cali_reef]

I have decided on getting a Sequence Dart for my closed loop and was considering the Sequence Hammerhead for my Return pump from my sump split to two outputs into the tank.

My tanks is a 120 gal (48x24x24)...

Your planned return pump will be way overkill for your tank and I am pretty sure you can't use the full capacity of the pump due to your overflow box size. The dart as a closed loop pump maybe okay, provided you split up the output to a few different parts of the tank and have it very in direction a little to create some "wave" effect.

Don't go by the numbers that much, I don't think they are hard rules. What I suggest you do is too see some tanks with close loops and other water movement devices before you go nuts trying to figure this out, the tank with the nicest color and growth should give you some ideas on how much flow and what type of flow works.

 

[marrone]

It all depends on the corals that you keep. I have alot of lps and soft corals and don't have a huge flow in my tank or from the return from the sump and all my corals are doing great.

 

[House of Laughter]

Things to consider (pretty much stated here)

1) Physical limitations on your tank (flow on drains returns, electric, etc)
2) Internal flow -vs- external return for flow (return of CL)
3) Distribution of Flow - how you"re going to break it up
4) Inhabitants


I personally use to go by the 10x rule. But on my current system, I have a 1750gph return and an 1850gph Tunze for internal flow. That's 3600 gph in a 240g system which translates into exactly 15x. If you ever want to keep softies (LPS) I don't think you can get away with higher then 15x. BUT, if you want to keep SPS, you'll definately need more than 15x.

Now, I willl be keeping both, but will be SPS dominant and will locate the SPS in the higher flow areas to keep them happy. I also bought the controller for the TUNZE so that the tank gets a wave effect - somewhat simulating the surf.

Bottom line (as aslo stated here) there is NO hard fast rule - more havs to do with how you want to setup you system.

Good luck,

House

 

[bad coffee]

I had a mag 7 with a scwd on my 20 gallon. If you figure a 25% loss for the sqwd, I'm thinking about 500gph is going through my tank. which puts it around 25x per hour. And my tank is an LPS tank.

I put more consideration into the thought of flow vs. velocity. Sure, I have a lot of flow through my tank, but it's not fast flow. I chose to use the 3/4" lockline (instead of the 1/2) so I would get the same amount of flow, but not a high velocity. (For example, it's the difference between using the garden hose with and without a nozzle. you get the same amount of water, but when you add a nozzle, it increases the velocity.)

I"m for lots of flow, but low velocity.

BC

 

[jackson6745]

If I remeber correctly you wanted an SPS reef? If so you'll get more of the right advice if you post your thread in the SPS forum on RC.
Rich, look at a reef that you admire and use it as a model for your reef.

 

[House of Laughter]

BC HAS about 525 from his return, BUT,. his return nozzles are pointing at the front glass and at the back acrylic. So, there is no direct flow for the LPS, but good flow in the tank.

House

 

[Rborgia]

I forgot to mention the Dart will be closed loop using an Ocean Motion Super Squirt ver 3.

I would like to keep some soft but definately want SPS.

I was hoping to have the SPS towards the surface of the tank and have the majority of the flow over them. The softies would be located towards the bottom front. I know I need some flow below the rock to prevent buildup down bottom. Is it feasable to split the return line from the sump, then split one or both of the returns again with 50% of the return directed to the bottom of the tank below the rock?

I was considering not using the "accessory kit that AG sells and making my returns for both directions. As for a sump, its either going to be a 30 or 40 gal tank (have the 30 laying around and waiting on the 40 from family).

Thanks for the replys, I now know I need to get a different return pump... back to the drawing board. I am contending with delivery from the basement up 10 feet.